| JOHNNYONTHESPOT | Handy guy to have around, or a hint to this puzzle's theme found in 17-, 24-, 50- and 62-Across |
| THINGSFALLAPART | Classic 1958 Chinua Achebe novel ... and a hint what literally happens in 17-, 24-, 50- and 61-Acros |
| LEADEROFTHEPACK | 1964 Shangri-Las hit ... or a hint to this puzzle's theme found in 17-, 24-, 47- and 59-Across |
| HANDYANDY | Useful guy to have around |
| GOTO | Good kind of guy to have around |
| JACKOFALLTRADES | Useful guy to have around |
| SSS | Reptilian warning found in 17-, 24-, 50- and 61-Across |
| ABOUT | Around or a series of rounds? |
| OUTOFAMMUNITION | Defenseless, in a way, and hint to what 17-, 24-, 50- and 62-Across are |
| BUTTEND | Pistol handle, and what 17-, 24-, 50- and 62-Across each have |
| TUESDAY | Word that can follow the first words of 17-, 24-, 50- and 62-Across |
| SPANGLISH | 2004 Adam Sandler movie, and a hint to the puzzle theme found in 17-, 28-, 38- and 45-Across |
| FIXIT | Mr. __ (handy guy) |
| MRFIXIT | Handy guy |
| THEINVISIBLEMAN | H.G. Wells classic, and a hint to this puzzle's theme found in the answers to starred clues |
| IFTHESHOEFITS | Abridged maxim about accepting an apt description, and a hint to this puzzle's theme found in 20-, 3 |
| GIMMEABREAK | 1980s Nell Carter sitcom, and a hint to the puzzle theme found in the ends of 17-, 32-, 39- and 46-A |
| INSIDEINFO | Tip, and a hint to this puzzle's theme found in five answers |
| TICTACTOE | Pencil game that hints at this puzzle's theme, found in the first and last letters of 18-, 25- and 4 |
| BEONTHEBALL | Demonstrate effectiveness, and a literal hint to the puzzle theme found in the answers to starred cl |
